Christine Y. Cruzvergara
About Christine Y. Cruzvergara
Christine Y. Cruzvergara serves as the Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, where she has significantly expanded school partnerships and market share in the community college space. She has held various leadership roles in career services at several universities and is recognized as an expert in equitable student career success.
Current Role at Handshake
Christine Y. Cruzvergara serves as the Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, a role she has held since 2021. In this position, she oversees a team of over 85 professionals across various departments, including sales, success, operations, customer education, marketing, product, and engineering. Under her leadership, Handshake has achieved significant milestones, including capturing 33% of the priority market share in the community college space during its first year of expansion. Additionally, she has led the growth of school partnerships from 700 to over 1600 universities and colleges, achieving a growth rate of over 125% in three years.
Previous Experience in Higher Education
Prior to her current role, Christine held various positions in higher education. She worked at George Mason University as the Director of University Career Services from 2013 to 2014 and as the Assistant Dean & Executive Director of University Career Services from 2014 to 2015. She also served as the Associate Provost & Executive Director of Career Education at Wellesley College from 2016 to 2019. Her earlier roles include Assistant Director of Career Development at George Mason University and Manager of Career Programs at Georgetown University. These experiences contributed to her extensive knowledge in career services and education strategy.
Educational Background
Christine earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Family Studies from James Madison University, where she studied from 2001 to 2005. She later pursued a Master of Arts in College Student Personnel at the University of Maryland, completing her studies from 2005 to 2007. Additionally, she attended the NACE Management Leadership Institute in 2012, further enhancing her expertise in career services and student success.
Media Recognition and Expertise
Christine is recognized as an expert in strategies for equitable student career success, frequently referenced in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, and Inside Higher Education. Her insights and leadership in the field of career education have positioned her as a thought leader, contributing to discussions on improving student outcomes and access to career resources.
Achievements at Handshake
During her tenure at Handshake, Christine has achieved a 99%+ retention rate of education partners year over year for over five years. She has also established a 93% market share of the Top 500 universities and colleges through her strategic leadership. These accomplishments reflect her commitment to enhancing career services and partnerships within the education sector.